An 83 year old suffered serious injuries after being hit by a van in Swansea. The driver received a community order.
Sian Evans, 53, was driving the van in Swansea on January 4, 2023. Gladys Williams was walking on Llangyfelach Road and reached the junction of Parkhill Road. Mrs. Williams checked for traffic before starting to cross the street.
The court heard that Evans was driving in the same direction as Mrs. Williams when she steered her van onto Parkhill Road. The van hit Mrs. Williams, who was already halfway across the road.
Mrs. Williams fell to the ground, experiencing pain from her injuries. Evans stopped her van and immediately called 999 for help. Police arrived and Evans stated that she did not see the woman, admitting that the accident was likely her fault.
Mrs. Williams was quickly transported to the hospital where doctors discovered three fractures in her ankle requiring surgery. She also suffered facial swelling and bruising, primarily on the left side of her face.
During questioning by police on April 17, 2023, Evans claimed Mrs. Williams was not paying attention and walked into the path of the van. Evans pleaded guilty to careless driving causing injury.
Judge Paul Thomas KC acknowledged that Evans stopped and called 999 and visited Mrs. Williams the following day. He also noted the considerable time it took for the case to reach court and determined that a jail sentence was not necessary.
Evans received a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 40 hours of unpaid work. In addition, she was disqualified from driving for 12 months.